Foldable display rack



y 4, 1954 w. H. GERBODE 6 FOLDABLE DISPLAY RACK Filed Feb. 12, 1951 WYlZiamH Gerbocle WWW Patentecl May 4, 1954 FOLDABLE DISPLAY RACK William H. Gerbode, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Rockford Show Case & Fixture 00., Rockford, 111., a. corporation-of Illinois Application February 12, 1951, Serial No. 210,542

5 Claims.

This invention relates to foldable racks especially designed for use in display counters in stores for the displaying of fountain pens and pencils, and similar articles.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a pair of display racks hingedly connected along adjoining longitudinal edge portions, the rear rack being hingedly connected at the rear edge thereof to the free edge portion of a hinged rear door on the display case and having its forward edge portion supported on the upper ends of upright links pivoted at their lower ends to the floor of the case, whereby when the door is swung rearwardly and downwardly to open position the rear rack is moved downwardly with it, remaining substantially horizontal throughout its travel, and the front rack, which in its normal position extends downwardly at an acute angle from the front end of the rear rack, moves rearwardly with the rear rack and into substantially coplanar relationship thereto, thus placing both racks in a most advantageous position for the salesman to remove and replace pens and pencils and from time to time rearrange and replenishthe stock. The links are arranged to swing past a vertical dead-center in the movement of the racks to operative position, whereby to insure movement definitely to a terminal position in each operation of the racks, and also a tendency to urge the door to a fully closed position under the weight of the loaded racks.

Another object is to provide a base under the front rack having an inclined top on which the free end of the front rack is supported for sliding movement back and forth in the opening and closing of the rear door, this rack having a stop projection on the front end thereof to limit forward movement of the rack assembly.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a counterheight display case having therein foldable display racks made in accordance with my invention and shown in their normal operative position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear of Fig. 1, showing the back door of the case opened down with the display racks in substantially coplanar lowered position;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the display racks in their normal operative position, as in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 shows the display racks in their lowered position.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 6 designates a rear display rack, to the front end of which is hingedly connected the rear end of another display rack 1, as indicated at 8. The rear rack 6 is supported at its front end on a plurality of upright links 9 pivotally connected at In to the bottom of the rack and pivotally supported at II on the floor 12 of the upper glass-enclosed display portion I3 of a display case M. The rear end portion of the rack 6 is pivotally connected, as at 15, for support on the rear door IQ of the display case,

a this door being hinged at its lower end, as indicated at H, to swing rearwardly and downwardly to the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. The front rack I has its free end portion resting on the rearwardly and downwardly inclined top wall [8 of a base l9 supported on the floor 1'2, and when the racks 6 and 1 are in their normal operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the free end of the rack I has abutment with a shoulder 20 provided on the high front end of the inclined top I8, so that this shoulder serves as a limit stop, always insuring a neat appearing display.

In operation, removable trays containing fountain pens and pencils are placed on the racks 6 and l for display and sales purposes, and when a customer asks to see a certain pen or pencil, the salesman in order to remove a tray or trays opens the back door l6, swinging it rearwardly and downwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The rack 6 remains substantially horizontal throughout its travel with the door but the rack 1 in moving rearwardly with the rack 6, slides on the inclined top 18 of the base I!) and moves into substantially coplanar relationship to the rack 5, so that the trays in both racks are most advantageously arranged for the salesman to remove and later replace whichever tray or trays may be designated. When the door 16 is swung back to its closed position, the

: tray 1 slides forwardly on the inclined top [3 of the base 19 and finally comes into abutment with the shoulder 20 which limits the forward movement, this occurring shortly after the links 9 have pased a vertical dead center, so that there is some appreciable thrust in the forward direction against the shoulder 20, helping to keep the structure in the operative position and also urge the door It inwardly toward closed position. The racks 6 and 1 are therefore always assured of being disposed in the proper relationship to one another when the door [6 is closed, and the merchandise on display on these racks is always most advantageously displayed, those articles on display on rack 1 being easily seen from a distance, and the articles on both racks 6 and 1 being easily seen when the customer is standing in front of the display case.

It is believed :the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a display case, the combination of ,an upright door hinged on its lower edge to a case to swing outwardly and downwardly to an open position, a pair of adjoining,zfront-andreansubstantially rectangular display racks hingedly connected together along adjoining longitudinal edges, the rear one of said racks being hingedly connected along its 'rear'longitudinal edge to the inner side of the door in upwardly spaced relation to the doors hinged lower edge, and a plurality of upright links pivotally supported in the case at their lower ends in inwardly spaced relation to the door and pivotally connected at'their upper'ends to the rear rack in inwardly spaced relation to the door, the last-named rack'being disposedsubstantieL-lly horizontally in its raised position and when lowered with the door, the front rack being pivotally connected at the rear thereof on-a horizontal-axis with the front of the 'rear rack for swinging movement, and a support in said case in fixed spaced relation to the door on which the free end of the front rack is slidably supported, the support being so formed "that the free end of said front rack is raised as it slides forward in the closing movement of the door.

2. Ina display case, the combination of an upright door hinged on its lower edge to a case to swing outwardly and downwardly-to an open position, a pair of adjoining, front'and rear, substantially rectangular display racks 'hingedly connected together along adjoining longitudinal edges, the rear one of said racks being hingedly connected along its rear longitudinal edge'to'the inner side of the door in upwardly spaced relation to the doors'hinged lower edge, and a plurality of upright links pivotally supported in'th'e case at their lower ends in inwardly spaced relation to the door and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the rear rack in inwardly spaced relation to the door, the last-named rack being disposed substantially horizontally in its raised position and when lowered with the door, the front rack being pivotally connected at the rear thereof on a horizontal axis with the front of the rear rack for swinging movement, a support in said case in fixed spaced relation to the door on which the free end of the front rack is slidably supported, the support being so formed that the free end of said front rack is raised asit slides forward in theclosing movementof the door, and a stop projection on thesupport positively limiting the forward sliding movement of the free endof said front rack on said support.

3. In a display case, the combination of an upright door hinged on its lower edge to acase to swing outwardly and downwardly to an open position, a pair of adjoining, front and rear, substantially rectangular display racks hingedly con nected together along adjoining longitudinal edges, the rear one of said racks being hingedly connected along its rear longitudinal edge -to the inner side of the door in upwardly spaced relation to the doors hinged lower edge, and a plurality of upright links pivotally supported in the case at their lower ends in inwardly spaced relation to the door and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the rear rack in inwardly spaced relation to the door, the last-named rack being disposed substantially horizontally in its raised position and when lowered with the door, the front rack being pivotally connected at the rear thereof on a horizontal axis with the front of the rear rack for swinging movement, a sup- ;port .in saidzcase in fixed spaced relation to the door on which the .free end of the front rack is slidably supported, the support being so formed that .the 'free .endof said front rack is raised as it slides forward in the closing movement of the door, and a .stop projection on the support positively limiting the forward sliding movement of the free end of said front rack on said support, said links being arranged to swing inwardly past a vertical-dead-center position when the free end of the'front rack is in the vicinity of said stop projection, whereby the rack assembly is biased in the direction of said stop projection and tends to hold the door closed in upright position with the front rack resting engagement with said stop projection.

'4. In a display case, the combination of an upright door hinged on its lower edge to a case to swing outwardly and downwardly to-an open position, a pair of adjoining, front and rear, substantially rectangular display racks hingedly connected together along adjoining longitudinal edges, the rear one of said racks being hingedly connected along its rear longitudinal edge to the inner side of the door in upwardly spaced relation to the doors hinged lower edge, and a plurality of upright 'links'pivot-ally supported in the case at their lowerends in inwardly spaced relation to the door and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the rear rack in inwardly spaced relation to the door, the last-named rack being disposed substantially horizontally in its raised position and when lowered with the door, the front rack being pivotally connected at the rear thereof on a horizontal axis with the front of the rear rack for swinging movement, a support in said case in fixed spaced relation to the door on which the free end of the front rack is slidably supported, and "a stop projection on the support positively limiting the forward sliding movement of the free end of said front rack on said support.

5. In a display case, the combination of an upright door hinged-omits lower edge to a case to swing outwardly and downwardly to an open position, apair of adjoining, front and rear, substantially rectangular displayracks hingedly connected together along adjoining longitudinal edges, the rear one of said racks being hingedly connected along its rearlongitudinal edge to the inner side of the .door in upwardly spaced relation to the doors hinged .lower edge, and a plurality of upright links pivotally supported .in the case at theirlower ends in inwardly spaced relation to the door and pivotally connected-at their upper ends 'to the rear .rack in inwardly spaced relation to the door, the last-named rack being disposed substantially horizontally in its raised position and when lowered with the door, the front rack being pivotally connected at the rear thereof on a "horizontal axis with the front of the rear rack for swinging movement, a support in said case in fixed spaced relation to the door on which the free end of the front rack is slidably supported, and a stop projection on the support positively limiting the forward sliding movement of the free end of said front rack on said support, said links being arranged to swing inwardly past a vertical dead-center position when the 5 free end of the front rack is in the vicinity of said stop projection, whereby the rack assembly is biased in the direction of said stop projection and tends to hold the door closed in upright position with the front rack resting in engagement with said stop projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Mancha Feb. 10, 1903 Zeigler Feb. 13, 1906 Barell Apr. 12, 1910 Kohn Oct. 6, 1914 Brazzil May 11, 1926 Burch Aug. 9, 1938 Ressinger June 16, 1942 

